Community Healthcare In Siem Reap… (trip)

Community Healthcare In Siem Reap (Hs)

  • Siem Reap Airport, Siem Reap, Cambodia
  • Volunteer Vacations
Cambodia, Southeast Asia

from £1,218* per person28 DaysYear-round
Comfort accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: People and Places - Responsible Volunteering 24 people max
This project works with families living in extreme economic poverty, providing holistic support from education to income generation. Volunteers are needed to help develop the health programme.

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Locations visited/nearby

Cambodia, Southeast Asia

0 testimonials about this trip.

2 testimonials about the provider, People and Places - Responsible Volunteering:

  • Reviewer: Denise located in Ross-shire Scotland
    I have nothing but praise for the way that the entire volunteer experience was; from initial contact to writing this report, I have had openness, excellent communication and explanation. Thank you!.....
    – Having contacted people and places and submitted  a pen portrait of my personal and profession experience – a task that in itself was very rewarding for me – the placement was negotiated in principle. This was completed in a most professional, friendly and positive way by Kate. .. All very exciting things to do and learn about as well as background recommended reading. At this stage the support and additional information I sought from people and places was supplied by return of email and I was able to chat over possible choices with Kate – I found the whole experience most satisfactory and also learnt much from this part of the placement preparation.......
    thank you for the superb way in which you run the volunteer programme - a very satisfied customer. Thank you!
  • Reviewer: Paul located in Port Elizabeth, Easter Cape South Africa
    Our most recent volunteers, Robin and Jane, have produced an amazing amount thus far. They came to a computer lab that has departmental Cammi software on, that teachers have been using, but after a day or two of observation the recognized that teachers are only using the system to a limited degree in terms of what all it can produce. First step was to work out the software admin system, which they have done, and they have been assisting the teachers coming to the lab, and upgrading the admin of the system making it more relevant in terms of assessments for the teachers of learners abilities. Robin has had a few interesting encounters with the Education Departments Cammi support staff.
     
    They have run a couple of teacher training sessions on excel, and are setting up model lessons on how to effectively use the Cammi programme in a proper way. This will happen next week!
     
    They have standardized all the desktops, so its easier for teachers, and developed worksheets for the students who are in the lab, but cannot access a terminal due to large class sizes.
     
    And Robin has been team teaching in the grade 4 technology class, working on practical tasks that help teach technology!
     
    So their input has been tremendous.
     
    Just so we don’t forget that things never run smoothly, Nomatansanqa Township has been having the water switched off and on over the last 2 weeks. 800 children, no water for hours is not easy to manage. Added to that, getting home to their homestay and not having access to water to bath, is no fun at all. I am pleased to report though that as of middle of this week the water is back on!
     
    They had a wonderful welcoming ceremony this week, with local stakeholders in attendance. Jane was fascinated by the formality of the programme, which seemed forgotten after each speaker as everyone got up to sing some songs.
     
    On their first day, as we arrived at the school, some Grade R children were outside waving SA flags, and carrying little signs that said Welcome Robin and Jane! A real warm welcome.
    Thank you people and places for continuing to send such amazing volunteers! Keep up the good work!

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Special information

  • This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.

Itinerary

The project

This project meets the needs of families who are on or just above the poverty line in 3 farming and fishing villages between Siem Reap and Tonle Sap Lake. Life in these villages still revolves around subsistence farming and fishing.

Every week day, 250 children and young people, aged between 3 and 24, attend the English language programme and 30 young people and adults are learning in the vocational training section. Training is given in domestic electrics, weaving and wood-working skills, supported by adult literacy classes. A crèche is provided for younger siblings and the vocational training students’ children. There is a junior football team who compete in local tournaments.

A programme of health education is being established.This is a new initiative and volunteers will help the local staff and volunteers develop a programme appropriate for the community they seek to serve.

The local community finds it practically impossible to source healthcare support - it is both expensive and remote.

Community support is provided in the form of rice aid, house repairs, installing water wells/pumps, water filters (for clean drinking water), toilets and hygiene packs. Children are encouraged to attend state school and the project assists with this by providing school uniforms, supplies and bicycles.  Micro-loans are provided for setting up a small business. A small area of land has been given to local families with no land, to grow vegetables.

The project is run as a locally registered, non religious, non political NGO, managed by a committee of local village representatives, staff representative and expat founders.  With the exception of the Project Manager, who is English, all project staff are local people.

This project has built immense respect within the local community. The challenges are huge - poverty, loss of natural habitat and traditional income, lack of resources, children's need to work, chronic health problems, a violent history. For many, this local NGO is their hope for the future, whether through a child's education or a micro loan to fund a livelihood initiative.
 
The team's goals for the future are to:
• develop the health education programme
• increase outreach work with families, disadvantaged young people and the elderly
• open a community library
• build a kitchen and provide a nutritious lunch to 100 needy children
• expand  the art programme
• research and develop effective sustainable energy systems

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